The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-08-19
A Word to the Hogs Who Arc Coming to the
$50 MS. tltf5 Greht Reunion, AZ s

CoMRApRs:--I notice that the good tenn.
perance ladies who are always our friends
In war and In peace, are arranging to hold
temperance meetings and TO employ n
thousand and one delicate little expedi-
ents TO keep tho boys out OF the grogshops
and drugs.ores during the Big Reunion.
There was a time, and not many years
ogo, either, when We nearly sll drank
more or less liquor, but that day, l trust,
ban gone by with the rest as 1t has with
me ior years. Hope the good ladies' will
fluid little trouble In convincing the boys
that cup Of coffee Is preferable to -
glaee OF beer or whisky. 1t IL a shame
and Disgrace that the subject has to be
thought OF or spoken OF in connection
with gathering Of Union soldiers.
| II used 10 DO that reunions were some.
times disgraced with drunkenness. This
Is no longer the case. OF late years eel.
dom see q soldier drunk. AT the Reunion
In June on the Western Reserve, when
Gen. Faischild was present, / saw only
one drunken soldier, and he was h half.
witted creature only to be pitied by God
and man, and not accountable TO either.
At one great Fourth Of July Reunion here
again, did not see or hear Of an intoxica.
| ted person. Not one. This is as it should
bs iu Wheeling, and l believe will be.
The soldiers Of 1865 who drank heavily
arc nearly all In their graves, In the
Soldiers Home or In the lunatic asylums.
Comrades, you and know this Is true.
The enemiea OF the soldier, and their
name ia legion, love to see him get drunk
aud disgrace the glorious uniform OF blue.
Nothing pleaaea them better, as nothing
more diHtresses the loyal men and women
Who love the soldier. Every such instance
Ia caught up by those who do not wish US
well, and exploited as fair sample Of
our general character 40 II We were all
bunmsre and loaters, to be avoided by
fespectable people. r
Yet General Fairchild told me this
summer that In the Northwestern States
he never meets drunken soldier ct their
Reunions, and no class oil men there rank
higher as gentlemen than the Boys in
Blue. is5s
This is as it should be- the wide world
over. WHO'S he that commands public
confidence and respect in higher degree
than the brave gentleman who took his
life in his hands, and fought the battle OF
his country2 Surely no millionaire, SEN
ator or President. he ia the equal Of the
best man in the world. Fl. =
Let US live up 10 this high ideal Of the
soldier, realized in tho life and character
Of such men IS Grant, Sherman, Logan,
Sheridan and million other soldiers,
their equsliu oil the elements Of genuine
manhood. Pass the word along the lines
that no soldier shall drink drop Of liquor
ut Wheeling. Weare notholding this Re-
union for the benefit Of the saloons and
drug etores. Let US convince the good Ia.
dies Of the Women's Christian Temper
auce Union that the Army OF West Viz
ginis ,are sober gentlemen, the peers OF
any class Of gentlemen in America. This
We cannot do II We enter saloons or drug
stores, or drink any kind OF liquor. We
owe it to our Society, we owe it to our
families at homo, We owe it to our COM
rades the world over. We must live and
die aobsr men, il VIC would uphold the
honor Of the Grand Army OF the Republic
whoee standard Of character ia not exceed
ed by Gny ever established as the measure
Of human excellence.
PRIVATE DALzELL.
nrIy,rsn 0b:n iup,tey IL .2-fg. Sol. Il.-.